Rural Juror

NBC's 30 Rock is a show that keeps getting better. The first episode or two were not terribly funny and it looked like the show would not make it too far but for those who have stuck with it through or even discovered it mid-season know that the show has found itself. At first Tina Fey was too awkward, Tracy Morgan was too silly and Alec Baldwin was too slimy. None of them were great and it was sort of a struggle to like or enjoy them. Now though, all of the characters have been developed into more solid personalities whose actions and words make sense. Tina is still awkward but also has a purpose, Tracy is sill but now it is understood that he is a smart and crazy guy as well and Alec is slimy but he is so funny too just as he is in hosting SNL! Jane Krakowski and an excellent supporting cast also deserve mention. It is a pleasure to see her back on the small screen after her Ally McBeal days.
I'm relieved that this show found its stride. If you haven't tuned it, it isn't too late to catch it...Thursdays on NBC. Tina Fey is definitely missed on SNL but it is refreshing to see her in a role that is perfect (of course, she did write it) and to see a show that pokes fun at sketch comedy which most of the cast knows all too well from their days at SNL either as writers, actors or both. It is sort of the lightweight counterpart to Studio 60.
What does the subject line mean? It is the name of the movie Krakowski's character is starring in. "The Rural Juror" is difficult to say and the punchline a few times on a recent episode. Try to say it. Not a title I'd choose for a film!
Happy TV watching.

Taylor Hicks, Taylor Hicks

Taylor Hicks' album dropped on Tuesday and sales for the week are not yet reported but given Idol hopeful Chris Daughtry's fortune on the charts, the outlook is good. In fact, he is close to having the number one debut by a new artist, ever. We'll see. Even if he doesn't come out on top, Taylor should be proud of this album. He had to compromise his style minimally and made an album that has a great, upbeat, fun sound. Plus, two of the songs are his own that he wrote in his pre-Idol days proving he is more than that show. His voice is strong, the instrumentation is great and I can't wait to see him on tour!
Rather than go on and on (which I could), I'll list each track and a very short review of it. Let's see if I can be brief.

1. The Runaround: Very fun track when done live. Try not to dance! She done him wrong. "...and to think that I sat there singing you a love song...I give you everything. All I get from you is your runaround."

2. Dream Myself Awake: Rob Thomas penned this one and it reminds me of a track that would have been on Matchbox20's "Mad Season" album. Nice track. "Do me wrong, do me right, do me any way you want tonight..."

3. Heaven Knows: The Ray Charles track. It is a great song. Get ready for the horns, the drums, the keys...it's all there. Go ahead, clap along. "Heaven Knows I've tried..."

4. Gonna Move: Kicks off with nice bass line. It is about up and moving away and doing what you really want to do. "...Then I joined the college ranks. There they said they'd teach me how to think...after awhile, reading those books was making me lose my smile. And I knew in order to not conceal I had to play my music and express how I feel. I'm gonna move away from here. You can find me if you want to go there."

5. Wherever I Lay My Hat: Hat's off to Marvin Gaye and the other writers. One of the slower songs on the album about the guy the girl sits and cries over though he'll never change. "I'm the type of guy who gives the girls the eye, everyone knows. But I love them and leave them, break their hearts and deceive them, everywhere I go. Don't you know I'm the type of man who is always on the roam? Wherever I lay my hat, that's my home."

6. Give Me Tonight: Taylor has a writing credit on this one. If there is a sexy song on this album, this is it. It reminds me of a jazzy, less pop version of "Just Got Paid". The lyrics are more late-twenties than early-twenties but it is on the same level. "There was magic in the air, you were trying not to stare but I caught you, caught you cold. Now there's nothing you can do...but if you give me tonight..."

7. Just to Feel That Way: A nice song about taking a chance on love and feeling that way. By the end of the song, you know why you've let yourself get hurt. "...it's worth it, for even one day, just to feel that way."

8. The Maze: Sounds like he's in love...caught up in her maze. We've all been in someone' maze at one time or another.

9. Places I've Been: I know why I love Diane Warren. She writes great love songs.

10. Soul Thing: A Taylor Hicks original. This is a fun song about Soul and the biz. Seems to be autobiographical to a point. "When the tough get going, the muses visit me...they always say to me: It ain't no groove thing. It ain't no country twang. It's a simple refrain. It's a soul thing." Gotta love the muses.

11. The Deal: Of Taylor's original songs, this is one of my favorites. "I know livin' with me ain't easy...I'm here to show you, baby, this love is real." It's about making it happen if the love is real...just going for it.

12. The Right Place: Bryan Adams was the author of this song. It shows Taylor's voice range on the higher side and is a nice ballad to wrap things up. The last dance so to speak.